New Delhi: Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Monday took over as the 26th Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) by succeeding Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.
Dhanoa demitted the office of the Chief of Air Staff on superannuation.
Delhi: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa demits office of the Chief of Air Staff on superannuation; Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria takes charge as the Chief of the Indian Air Force. pic.twitter.com/VknFnrbPuB
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2019
The Central Government had appointed Bhadauria as the new chief of IAF earlier this month and his term will last for two years.
Bhadauria has set his own record of 4,250 hours flying and has flown 26 different types of fighter jets during his lifetime.
He has held several important positions such as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from January 2016 to February 28, 2017.
During 39 years of his career, Bhadauria has been awarded several medals, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2013), the Vayu Sena Medal (January 2002) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2018). He was appointed honorary Aide De Campe to the President of India on January 2019.